Hearing Loss

HEARING LOS. A Disability that is affecting the People Worldwide Hearing loss affects every family. It has now been documented that one in six adults suffers from hearing loss and that only a fraction of those with hearing impairment actually use hearing aids. WHAT IS HEARING LOSS Someone who has hearing loss might be able to hear some sounds or nothing at all. Hearing Impairment also called as hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with one or more parts of the middle or inner ear. People with hearing loss may have decreased sensitivity to sounds heard. that are normally TYPES OF HEARING LOSS Depending upon which part of the auditory system is damaged, hearing loss can be categorized in three main catgories. It results from the blockage or interference of sound in the outer or middle part of the ears. Conductive It is caused by problems of the nervous system in the inner ear. Sensorineural It refers to the combination of Conductive and whWMixed W sensorineural hearing loss. This Means there may be damage in outer or middle ear and in the inner ear. DEGREES OF HEARING LOSS An audiogram is a graph that shows the softest sounds a person can hear at different pitches or frequencies. Degree of Hearing ranges from Normal to Profound. Audiogram Graph Normal 10 20 Minimal 30 Mild 40 Moderate 50 60 Moderate to Severe 70 80 Severe 90 100 Profound 110 SYMPTOMS OF HEARING LOSS Difficulty following conversations when two or more people are talking Hearing but Turning up the volume on the TV not understanding Social withdrawal due to not understanding conversations Strained personal relationships, denial Cannot hear environmental sounds such as game calls, traps releasing, crickets, etc. 40 KE Can't hear fellow workers Fatigue and stress due Must lip read to understand Speech over to denial of hearing impairment machinery noises CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS We all lose a percentage of our hearing sooner or later. Hearing loss is a natural consequence of getting older and the hearing ability starts worsening up from our 30s or 40s and onwards. Impacted ear wax Fluid in the middle ear Tumor Congenital anomaly causing complete closure of the ear canal (Atresia) We all lose a percentage of our Ear infections hearing sooner or later.Hearing loss is a natural consequence of Missing bones from the middle ear due to previous surgery getting older and the hearing Perforation of ear drum ability starts worsening up from our 30s or 40s and onwards. Loose or fractured bone in the middle ear Stiff bones in the middle Injury ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL SOUND LEVELS Harmful for Ear 140 and above db 110 - 130 db Jet Aircraft Wood Working Shop 100 - 110 db 90 - 100 db Loud Music Concert hall Seat 80 - 90 db 70 - 80 db Heavy Traffic Ordinary 60 - 70 db conversation Soft Background Music 50 - 60 db Quiet Conversation 40 – 50 db 30 - 40 db Whisper, Average residence SOCIAL E MENTAL AFFECT OF HEARING LOSS 1. Many adults may be depressed because of how hearing loss is affecting their social life. 2. Social situations become more tiring and stressful for hard of hearing children. 3. They begin to avoid conversations and social interactions as hearing becomes more difficult. 4. People with severe to profound hearing losses often report feeling isolated, without friends, and unhappy in their social life. 5. It develops Feelings of anger, Frustration, and Embarrassment. 6. Hard of hearing people are short-tempered and less tolerant towards others. HEARING LOSS MAY HAVE AN IMPACT ON VOCATIONAL CHOICES Reduced Speech Perception Speech/Language Delay Hearing Loss Lowered Self-Esteem Isolation HEARING LOSS FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW Hearing loss can be present from birth due to genetic or developmental abnormalities, or arise through trauma or disease Around 75-80% of all cases are inheritved Permanent acquired hearing loss of a The Center for Hearing and by recessive genes, 20-25% is inherited by significant degree affects one in 12 of Communication reports that exPosure to dominant genes, 1-2% is inherited by the adult population in Ireland. In the a noisy subway, - for just 15 minutes a X-linked patterns, and less than 1% is over 70-age group this rises to some day - can cause permanent damage inherited by mitochondrial inheritance. 50%. to hearing over time. Listening to an MP3 player at high Approximately 2 million people are 15 percent of children between the ages volumes over time can permanent profoundly deaf, and 30-40 percent of people of 6-19 have measurable hearing loss in damage to your hearing. over 65 have some type of hearing loss. at least one ear. Additionally, hearing 14 percent of people between the ages of loss occurs in 5 out of every 1,000 45-64 also have some type of hearing loss. newborns, and over 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents. The Importance of a Hearing test The hearing screening will help you check for hearing problems. It is also intended to give you an idea of what some parts of a hearing evaluation might be like. A hearing test will give you a first impression about how well you hear. For an accurate measurement of hearing ability, you should consult with a qualified hearing care professional. With a hearing test you will get reliable solution by a hearing professional like an audiologist, hearing aid specialist or ENT doctor. WAYS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HEARING LOSS Avoid Excessive Noise. Turn down the ambient noise level Limit Exposure to Loud Sounds. Wear Hearing Protection in your life by buying appliances devices or Hearing and devices that have low noise Aids. ratings. Always wear ear protection Stop Smoking as exposure Remove earwax properly as wax Eating a healthy diet, while working on heavy to tobacco smoke has been buildup in your ears can muffle maintaining proper weight industrial linked to increased risk of sound and thus decrease your and daily exercise can hearing loss. hearing ability. help you avoid hearing loss. Hearing loss due to aging may be Limit your Alcohol usage as too prevented with a combination of much alcohol can contribute to antioxidants, mineral and vitamin permanent hearing (oss. SUpplements such as folic acid and magnesium. Reference: http://www.hiddenhearing.ie/ http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?con=629 http://www.hearing.ie/facts_figures.html O) HiddenHearing we listen, you hear www.hiddenhearing.ie LOUNDNESS IN DECIBELS(DB) DO